Hey everyone – Barry (the husband) here. I thought for my first guest post I’d be writing something deep and insightful about being a dad, or maybe something useful about my role as a financial counselor – or maybe even something about my woodworking or something else about which I might consider myself knowledgeable. But alas, it is not so. Stacy asked me to write about how to make fried rice.

Before you read any further, please know I cannot compete with my kitchen queen of a wife and would never try to get in her way in the kitchen. However, once a week, Stacy gives herself a reprieve from cooking the family dinner, instead opting to sit on the couch with her bonbons and forcing me to go to the kitchen and cook something…or something like that. I have always loved to cook, but I really enjoy this weekly opportunity to remind myself bachelorhood is not for me. Even though I enjoy doing my weekly dinner assignment, I much prefer to enjoy the fruits of Stacy’s labor. Anyway, there is one thing I make that Stacy tells me is better than hers – so let’s make some fried rice! [Read more…]

****I have edited this recipe to fit our Whole Foods lifestyle by using homemade buns and organic ketchup.********

When I told Barry I was going to make these Jerked Chicken Hoagies, he kept going around saying, “What a jerk!” Yes, I married a comedian. Anyway, we love jerk seasoning in our house. What is it? It’s actually a Jamaican spice. Cooking “jerk style” means that you use a dry rub or a wet marinade for meats – the marinade being a very hot spice mixture. So, what’s in it? Allspice, peppers, cloves, cinnamon, scallions, nutmeg, thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper. It sounds like a weird combination, but it just works……trust me. Sorta like green beans and ketchup. They just go together. [Read more…]

Wowza! This is GOOD stuff right here, y’all. I’m having a lot of fun playing with my crock pots…..and this one is a recipe you’ll probably add to your regular rotation.

And you’ll kiss me after dinner and bestow upon me tons of gifts in the form of fancy dishes (or enamel-coated cast iron cookware – HINT, HINT) and pretzel M&Ms. Yes, it’s THAT good.

Another plus to this one is that it makes a large amount, so you can put the extra in the freezer for another meal. You’ll start this in the morning when you go to work, and then when you come home 8 hours later, you’ll just have to boil your noodles and fix a side salad. Voila! I’m falling in love with my crock pots (yes, pots…..I have 5). [Read more…]

****We have adapted this recipe to fit our whole foods lifestyle by using organic ketchup and homemade bread cubes.******

Okay, I am about to blow your mind – did you know you could make meatloaf in the crock pot?! IT’S TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I <3 meatloaf.

Yes, I know it’s scary to some people, but I like it all sorts of ways. I will tell you that I don’t order it at a cafeteria or anything like that – that IS sorta scary. Hairnets freak me out.

Anyway, if you missed it you can see this post I did about making mini meatloaves. They are really fast! But, I like this one too…….because it cooks all day and is ready when you’re ready to eat! It’s like a miracle, I’m telling ya.

If you have to work, you could throw this in the crock pot in the morning before you got ready and ate breakfast. Then it would be ready when you got home from work! You want to kiss me, don’t ya? [Read more…]

Holy Moly. How can something so simple be so good? Usually I make lasagna from scratch (my Mama’s recipe), but I wanted to try this one because it just seemed too easy to be true. The reviews were great, so I went for it……and I was blown away.

Even Annie, who hates noodles AND meat, ate her entire plate of this. I liked it because I was able to start it during the day and have dinner done later when things were busy. Nice. On the 8th Day, God invented Crock Pots. Amen. [Read more…]

I’ve been on a pizza kick recently. I want it all the time. We fix these tortilla pizzas a lot in our house. You can vary the toppings depending on how you’re feeling. Feeling especially frisky today? Use hot salsa and jalapenos. Feeling bland and blah? Plain cheese works too. It’s ok if no one in your house likes the same toppings…..if usually that makes you travel somewhere like CiCi’s Pizza (be still my heart!) then today you’re in luck! Each pizza can be customized to your pickiness. There won’t be a recipe at the end, as this is just to give you a general idea. Then I’ll unleash you and let you go. If you love something, let it go! I love pizza, and I let it go…….down the hatch. [Read more…]

The second recipe I’m showcasing from the cookbook Deceptively Delicious is Turkey Chili. Please don’t run screaming from the room. I realize that a lot of people think that ground turkey is really gross – we are not among them. I use ground turkey a lot in our house…..especially when I find it marked down. My friend Kim will NOT use ground turkey because she tried it once and her family had nightmares for months. I keep telling her it was a loooooooooooooong time ago and she should try it again. Ground turkey has come a long way. It’s a great substitute for beef and pretty healthy to boot! However, if ground turkey makes you gag and fall down on the floor and have convulsions, then you can substitute ground beef. The verdict for this recipe? Not bad. I liked the finely chopped vegetables and the addition of cornmeal. Now ,it’s not the BEST recipe for chili I’ve ever had, but it’s great for sneaking in vegetables and getting your kids to eat healthy. Even my mom liked it and she’s really picky about her chili. So, let’s be sneaky shall we? [Read more…]

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Kim brought us a bowl of this soup….and we devoured it. It was SUPER yummy! I didn’t want to share with Barry, but he has this habit of sticking around when it’s time to eat. I asked her for the recipe so I could make it and share it with you guys. This is her sister, Martha’s, recipe, and it will make you very, very, very happy. Even my daughter who hates potatoes chowed down on this. It’s miracle soup. [Read more…]

In honor of the Labor Day holiday, Barry said I should post something that was made on the grill. I guess most of you are going to pull out your grill and give a last hurrah for the summer. Although around here, if the heat keeps up, we’ll be having sweaty buns for most of the winter months. Yesterday, it was so hot, spit would have evaporated before it hit the ground. Stupid Global Warming. I blame it on Al Gore. Anyway, I thought I would show you how to make stuffed burgers. It’s more of a method than a recipe, so no recipe will be included at the bottom. You can take this idea and run with it. Run like the wind! Happy Labor Day!

Ingredients

For these burgers, you’ll need ground meat, garlic powder, salt, fresh pepper, bacon bits, feta cheese, and cream cheese. Now, you can use any type of ground meat that you want – beef, veal (too expensive for my blood), turkey, chicken, or just about anything you can think up. As far as the cheeses go, I used these because that’s what I had. You could use ANY type of cheese – bleu cheese, goat cheese (YUM!), cheddar, mozzarella – let your imagination run wild. Try to pair things together. I used bacon, but you could use pepperoni, or anything else you think might pair well with the cheese you’re using. To make a pizza burger, use mozzarella and chopped pepperoni. The burger is your canvas! [Read more…]

I believe God created you to be the hero of your home. You CAN manage your home instead of it managing you. That’s why I empower women with simple solutions for their homemaking needs – because if it’s not easy, you won’t do it. {Read More…}

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I absolutely love your heartfelt writing. You make me smile, and I appreciate your candor, humor and righteous anger...even when you are mad :) My daughter needs to have you in her life and I am going to forward your site to her.

-Cora

YOU definitely make life better, easier and helpful!! So for all this I am thankful for you!!

-Carolyn

I am also very thankful for your writing!!! I've subscribed to many blogs, but yours is one I actually stop and read as soon as it hits my inbox. I love your authenticity and practical approach...and especially your humor....wish I'd had this 11 years ago when I first embarked on motherhood.

-Regan

I'm a longtime reader/follower. I have always appreciated how honest and real your writing is. I like not knowing what you'll write about next, and I like how sometimes you cover several topics in a post. You are funny and practical, and I've learned a lot from you (and Barry, too!) over the years. So, thank you!

-Tina

Thank you for putting your experience along with your sparky humor down to these posts! I even started to apply some of your tips into my days. :) I just started homeschool my first born and have three more so life gets busy and list of chores frustrating. So I just wanted to let you know That your posts refreshed one tired and uninspired mommy here in Czech republic!

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Stacy, you are oh-so relatable to me! I love the humor, but I really love the financial inspiration (debt-free since ’14!), the near-daily reminder that there are other children of God out there, and, of course, the food. Following you is a breath of fresh air.

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